What does Judges 19:11 mean?

"And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it." - Judges 19:11

The verse Judges 19:11 in the King James Version of the Bible reads: "And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it."

In order to fully understand the meaning and context of this verse, we must first examine the surrounding passages and the historical context in which the Book of Judges was written. The Book of Judges is set in a time period when Israel was a confederation of tribes without a centralized government. The book recounts the history of the Israelites from the death of Joshua to the rise of the monarchy under King Saul. During this period, the Israelites cycled through a series of judges who served as leaders and deliverers from oppression.

The specific passage in Judges 19:11 is part of the larger narrative of the Levite and his concubine. In this particular story, a Levite and his concubine were traveling through the territory of the tribe of Ephraim when they decided to lodge in the city of Gibeah, which was inhabited by the Benjamites. As they were traveling, the day was far spent, and the servant suggested lodging in the city of the Jebusites, also known as Jerusalem.

The mention of the city of Jebus is significant because it was a city that was originally inhabited by the Jebusites, a non-Israelite tribe. The city of Jebus had not yet been conquered by the Israelites and was considered a foreign, pagan city. However, it would eventually become the capital of the united kingdom of Israel under King David and be known as Jerusalem. The mention of Jebus in this passage serves as foreshadowing of the future significance and transformation of this city in Israelite history.

The act of lodging in a foreign, pagan city also holds symbolic meaning in this passage. It symbolizes the moral and spiritual decline of the Israelites during this time period. The fact that the Levite and his concubine sought refuge in the city of Jebus, rather than seeking out the protection of their own people, reflects the breakdown of moral authority and leadership among the Israelites. It also speaks to the moral ambiguity and lack of guidance during this time when "everyone did what was right in their own eyes" (Judges 21:25).

Furthermore, the narrative of the Levite and his concubine is a tragic tale that reflects the moral decay and depravity of the people during this period. The Levite's concubine is ultimately abused and killed in the city of Gibeah, leading to a series of events that ultimately result in a civil war and the near-extinction of the tribe of Benjamin.

In conclusion, the verse Judges 19:11 serves as a poignant reminder of the moral and spiritual decline of the Israelites during the time of the judges. The mention of the city of Jebus and the act of seeking refuge in a foreign city symbolize the breakdown of moral authority and the lack of guidance among the Israelites. It also serves as a foreshadowing of the future significance of the city of Jerusalem in Israelite history. Overall, this verse is a powerful commentary on the consequences of moral decay and the need for strong leadership and moral guidance among God's people.

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Judges 19:11 - "And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it."

"And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it." - Judges 19:11

Luke 11:19 - "And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges."

Judges 11:19 - "And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place."

Revelation 19:11 - "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war."

Revelation 19:11 (ESV) Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

"And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges." - Luke 11:19

Judges 12:11 - "¶ And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years."

Judges 20:19 - "And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah."

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war." - Revelation 19:11

1 Corinthians 11:31 - "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged."

Job 31:11 - "For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges."

Judges 19:19 - "Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing."

2 Chronicles 19:6 - "And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment."

Psalms 148:11 - "Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:"

Judges 11:14 - "And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:"

Judges 2:11 - "¶ And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:"

2 Chronicles 19:5 - "¶ And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,"

Judges 5:19 - "The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money."

Judges 3:11 - "And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died."

Judges 14:11 - "And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him."

Judges 11:11 - "Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh."

Judges 11:4 - "¶ And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel."

Judges 11:27 - "Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon."

Judges 19:14 - "And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin."

Ezekiel 28:11-19

Judges 19:26 - "Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light."

Judges 19:7 - "And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again."